Eco-Cents Commendations
EcoCents Commendations
SPECIALTY COFFEE RETAILER AWARDS ITS ECO-CENTS SEAL TO SUPPLIERS AND SHOPS WHOSE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES EMBODY THE GOALS OF ENERGY CONSERVATION, MINIMAL WASTE AND THE USE OF RENEWABLE RESOURCES.
BY DAN BOLTON
ASTORIA® ( EQUIPMENT)
Among espresso equipment, Astoria’s Plus 4 You deserves special recognition. It is the first machine produced in the company’s Green Line and incorporates many energy saving innovations. Due to highly sophisticated stand-by software and precise temperature settings this multi-boiler automatic saves up to 47.6% more energy to lower your electrical bill. One boiler is dedicated to producing steam and hot water, while separate water reservoirs (one for each group head) are exclusively for coffee. Digital controls even track humidity. This allows a barista to adjust to a coarser grind as humidity rises. Each extraction is compared to that of an ideal shot. If the extraction is not perfect, the machine suggests appropriate corrective action. A self-learning feature tracks usage during the day, distributing power among groups based on working needs. At closing time it dials back usage without undue thermodynamic stress on heating elements. Data was independently certified by Intertek-ETL SEMKO, a firm that does safety testing and product certification. Learn more at www.plus4you.astoria.com
ECO-PRODUCTS® HOT CUPS ( NON-COMPOSTABLE)
Post-consumer recycled materials make the newest hot beverage cups by Boulder, Colo.-based EcoProducts our choice for 2010. The 24 percent post consumer recycled fiber in these cups is twice that of its competitors and the single-wall design is competitively priced. “Sustainability is not a black and white issue, but rather many shades of green,” says Marketing Communications Manager Wendell Simonson. The “PCF” cup, introduced in October 2009, is an affordable alternative to compostable cups that makes a positive environmental impact without sacrificing quality. The PCF is available in 4-, 8-, 10-, 12-, 16- and 20-ounce sizes. Learn more at www.ecoproducts.com.
GREENWARE® COLD CUPS (COMPOSTABLE)
These clear American-made compostable cold drink cups and lids stand out. Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Fabri-Kal, North America’s eighth largest thermoformer, offers expansive branding options in six-color inks. The biopolymer Ingeo™ from which they are made is stylishly shaped and durable with a rolled rim. Greenware® cold drink cups range in size from 7- to 24-ounces. Portion cups and lids are available in 2, 3.25 and 4 oz. sizes. The plant resins used in these cups is derived entirely from natural and renewable resource and does not pick up odors. Two sizes of straw-slot and dome lids snap tight to create a 100% natural package. To learn more visit www.f-k.com/green.
STALKMARKET® HOT CUPS (COMPOSTABLE)
Our choice in compostable hot cups and lids is StalkMarket, one of the few cup and lid combinations certified compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute. Portland, Ore.-based Asean Corp.’s Planet Plus lid is made of Ingeo™ and tempered in a process that makes it heat tolerant. The Planet Plus hot cup and lid are the first BPI certified compostable hot cup and lid system. Paperboard used in the cup is FSC certified and lined with Ingeo™ biopolymers from NatureWorks®, a plant material recovered from processed sugarcane. StalkMarket was founded in 2003 to provide an environmentally and economically viable alternative to traditional single-use paper- and plastic-based products. To learn more visit www. stalkmarketproducts.com
Previously recognized: Monin Gourmet Flavorings, "Syrups to Bees"; The Standard, Brooklyn, NY; Green Salmon Coffee & Tea, Yachats, Ore.; Green Sage Coffeehouse, Asheville, N.C.; Common Roots Café, Minneapolis; GoodOnYA, San Diego.; Kean Coffee, Orange County, Calif. and Liquid Planet, Missoula, Mont.
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